Display case



J. F. DREIER July 1, 1958 DISPLAY. CASE Filed Sept. 7, 1955 .Mwwkmmwmw Affe/wey.;

United States Patent Office 2,841,272 iatented `italy 1, 1958 DISPLAY CASE John F. Dreier, Sabetha, Kans.

Application September 7, 1955, Serial No. 532,982 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-10) This .invention relates to new and useful improvements in display cases, and has particular reference to a method and means of protecting the contents of such display cases against moths and other insects.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a display case having new and novel means for protecting the contents thereof against moths and the like by injecting protective chemical substances therein.

Another object is the provision of a display case of the character described having a reservoir incorporated therein but separate from the display compartment thereof, said reservoir being adapted to contain a moth repellent substance and means for delivering said moth repellent substance from said reservoir to said display compartment as required.

Other objects are extreme simplicity and economy of construction, eticiency and dependability of operation, and adaptability of the concepts involved for use in connection with the mothproong of cabinets, drawers, chests and other furniture enclosures.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specication, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line lI-II of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line Ill- III of Fig. 2.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views and the numeral 2 applies to the display case, which is triangular as shown. One of the prime purposes for which the display case is intended is the permanent preservation and display of the ags used at military funerals, and which are given to the families of the deceased serviceman. These ags are folded in triangular form in accordance with military tradition, and the display case is thus shown in triangular shape, a1- though it will be readily apparent that the invention is as readily applicable to display cases of virtually any form.

As shown, the display case comprises side walls 4, 6 and 8 arranged to form a triangular frame, the front of which is closed by a glass pane 10 sealed therein, and the back of which is closed by any suitable cover 12. At the intersection of two side Walls 6 and 8 of the case, a bore 14 is formed therein extending at right angles to the general plane of the case. Said bore extends h'om the back side of the case to a point spaced apart from the front thereof, so as not to mar the appearance. At its rearward or open end, bore 14 is threaded as at 16 and a plug 18 is threaded therein. Said plug is countersunk entirely beneath the surface of the case, to permit the case to be hung against a wall, or to be rested on a table Without having its normal position disturbed by said plug.

Said plug may be recessed as at 20 to receive an Allen wrench or the like.

Bore 14 is filled with a moth repellent chemical substance 22 having the consistency of a thick paste or semiuid, and communicates with the main display compartment 24 of the case through a plurality of holes or ducts 26 extending between said bore and said compartment. Thus it will be understood that whenever plug 18 is turned in a direction such that its threads advance it inwardly in bore 14, it acts as a piston to force the repellent substance 22 through ducts 25 into the display compartment. When that portion of the substance within chamber 24 is completely vaporized, sublimated, or other eX- hausted, more can be injected by turning plug 18 again.

It will of course be understood that either the front window 10 or the back cover i2 may be a hinged member which is shut after the contents of the case to be displayed are in place, or that members 10 or 12 could be sealed in place. However, no matter how closely fitting the cover may be, and no matter how tight the seal, air will eventually enter the case, and this air will vaporize the chemical 22. When the chemical 22 is exhausted, it may be replenished simply by removing plug 18, and without necessity of opening the case.

It is of course not essential to the operation of the device that the bore 14 be placed at a corner of the case as shown, but so placing it has at least two appreciable advantages. Firstly, it permits the use of a larger bore than could be used if disposed apart from a corner, since the eifective wall thickness at the corner is greater. This provides a greater capacity and permits less frequent reiillings. Secondly, disposition of the bore at a corner of the case provides that the ducts 26 will communicate with the interior of the case at an internal corner thereof. it is therefore far less likely that the contents of the case will contact the chemical substance directly and be stained or damaged thereby, since it is unlikely that said contents, particularly if cloth, will ever be forced into the extreme corner of the case.

While I have shown and described a specic embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A display case comprising a normally closed container having a hollow cylindrical recess formed in a wall thereof, said recess opening exteriorly of said container and being interconnected with the interior of said container by ducts formed in said walls, said recess being adapted to contain a moth repellent substance, and a piston operable in said cylindrical recess to force said substance from said recess through said ducts to the interior of said container, said piston being operable from outside said container.

2. A display case as recited in claim l wherein said cylindrical recess is internally threaded, and wherein said piston comprises a threaded plug screwed into the open end of said recess.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,530 Machleder Nov. 7, 1950 2,535,149 Bride Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 437,139 Great Britain Oct. 24, 1935 

